Image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cassette with cover is made up of a holding portion that contains sheets and a cover portion that serves as a cosmetic plate at the front of a laser printer and covers an opening of a storing portion for a process cartridge. The holding portion is supported at a bottom of a main body such as to move in a front-to-back direction, and the cover portion is separated from the main body along with the cassette portion. Thus, the opening of the storing portion for the process cartridge is opened or closed with the movement of the cover portion.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a main body with a first opening and a second opening; 
 an accommodating portion formed at the main body, wherein the first opening is in communication with the accommodating portion; 
 an exchange unit that is detachably attached to the accommodating portion through the first opening; 
 a cassette accommodating portion formed at the main body, wherein the second opening is in communication with the cassette accommodating portion; and 
 a cassette that is accommodated at the cassette accommodating portion and is movable relative to the main body between a first position and a second position, wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a holding portion that holds a recording medium therein; and 
 a cover portion that conceals the first opening when the cassette is at the first position. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion perpendicularly extends from the holding portion. 
   
   
     3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cover portion is formed with the holding portion integrally. 
   
   
     4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exchange unit includes a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device and a developer container. 
   
   
     5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the exchange unit further comprises a transfer roller. 
   
   
     6. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the cassette is positioned at the second position, the cover portion reveals the first opening. 
   
   
     7. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the cassette is detachable from the cassette accommodating portion, and both the first opening and the second opening are revealed when the cassette is detached from the cassette accommodating portion. 
   
   
     8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein both the first opening and the second opening face a common direction relative to the main body. 
   
   
     9. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an image scanning device provided above the main body. 
 
   
   
     10. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a feed path that extends from the holding portion. 
 
   
   
     11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least part of the feed path communicates with an exterior of the main body through the first opening when the cassette is at the second position. 
   
   
     12. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least part of the feed path extends parallel with a direction in which the exchange unit is attached to the accommodating portion. 
   
   
     13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first supply device that is adjacent to the second opening and that transports the recording medium from the holding portion to the feed path. 
 
   
   
     14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a slit opening that communicates with the feed path. 
 
   
   
     15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the slit opening is formed at the cover portion. 
   
   
     16. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the cover portion perpendicularly extends from the holding portion. 
   
   
     17. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a cover that is provided at the cover portion and that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover revealing the slit opening when the cover is at the open position and concealing the slit opening when the cover is at the closed position. 
 
   
   
     18. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second supply device that feeds the recording medium through the opening to the feed path. 
 
   
   
     19. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the second supply device is provided at the cover portion. 
   
   
     20. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the second supply device feeds the recording medium placed on the cover when the cover is at the open position. 
   
   
     21. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a first transmitting device, provided at the main case, that transmits a driving power to the second supplying device. 
 
   
   
     22. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second transmitting device, provided at the cover portion, that communicates with the first transmitting device and that transmits the driving power to the second supplying device. 
 
   
   
     23. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein both the first transmitting device and the second transmitting include a circular gear with a predetermined diameter. 
   
   
     24. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first transmitting device or the second transmitting device further comprises:
 a protection element, formed in a disc shape, that is attached to the gear with a diameter of the protection element being larger than the diameter of the gear. 
 
   
   
     25. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a lock formed with the cover; and 
 an engagement provided at the cover portion, wherein the lock is engaged with the engagement when the cover is at the closed position. 
 
   
   
     26. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a first holding portion, formed at the cover, that is used to move the cover to the open position. 
 
   
   
     27. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second holding portion, formed at the cover, that is used to move the cassette to the second position when the cover is at the open position. 
 
   
   
     28. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the cassette further comprises a third recess formed at a bottom surface of the cover. 
   
   
     29. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a first recess formed at a top surface of the cover. 
 
   
   
     30. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second recess formed at an outer surface of the cover adjacent to the top surface of the cover. 
 
   
   
     31. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a support portion, provided at the cover portion, that supports the cover portion such that the cover portion is movable between an open position and a closed position. 
 
   
   
     32. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the support portion is a shaft. 
   
   
     33. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein when the cover portion is at the closed portion, the cover portion is perpendicular to the holding portion. 
   
   
     34. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein when the cover portion is at the open position, the cover portion is parallel to the holding portion. 
   
   
     35. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the first opening is revealed when the cover portion is at the open position. 
   
   
     36. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a first holding portion, formed at the cover portion, that is used to move the cover portion to the open position. 
 
   
   
     37. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second holding portion, formed at the cover portion, that is used to move the cassette to the second position when the cover portion is at the open position. 
 
   
   
     38. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a lock part that keeps the cover portion at the open position and the closed position. 
 
   
   
     39. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a slit opening that communicates with the feed path. 
 
   
   
     40. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a cover that is provided at the cover portion and that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover revealing the slit opening when the cover is at the open position and concealing the slit opening when the cover is at the closed position. 
 
   
   
     41. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a second supply device that feeds a recording medium through the opening to the feed path. 
 
   
   
     42. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the second supply device is provided at the cover portion. 
   
   
     43. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the second supply device feeds the recording medium placed on the cover when the cover is at the open position. 
   
   
     44. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a first transmitting device, provided at the main case, that transmits a driving power to the second supply device. 
 
   
   
     45. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second transmitting device, provided at the cover portion, that communicates with the first transmitting device and that transmits the driving power to the second supplying device. 
 
   
   
     46. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein both the first transmitting device and the second transmitting include a circular gear with a predetermined diameter. 
   
   
     47. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein at least one of the first transmitting device or the second transmitting device further comprises:
 a protection element, formed in a disc shape, that is attached to the gear, with a diameter of the protection element being larger than the diameter of the gear. 
 
   
   
     48. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a lock piece formed with the cover; and 
 an engagement piece provided at the cover portion, wherein the lock piece is engaged with the engagement piece when the cover is at the closed position. 
 
   
   
     49. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a shaft formed at the cover portion, that is used to move the cover portion between the open position and the closed position; and 
 a lever that engages the shaft and that maintains the cover portion in the open position or the closed position. 
 
   
   
     50. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a first recess formed at a top surface of the cover. 
 
   
   
     51. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the cassette further comprises:
 a second recess formed at an outer surface of the cover adjacent to the top surface of the cover. 
 
   
   
     52. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor that detects whether the cover portion of the cassette is at the second position. 
 
   
   
     53. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the cassette is at the second position, the distance between an inner surface of the cover portion and the outer surface of the main body is greater than a length of the exchange unit. 
   
   
     54. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a main body with a first opening and a second opening; 
 a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the main body and that passes through the first opening; and 
 a cassette that is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the second opening of the main body, wherein an outer wall of the cassette conceals the first opening when the cassette is at the first position.